Automatic machine for the manufacture of steel wire springs

ABSTRACT

A machine for making steel wire springs particularly intended for the watch-making industry has a tray carrying fanwisearranged tool holders about the center of the tray and radially slidable towards the center of the tray with tools for shaping a spring from a wire coming out from the center of the tray. A means for actuating the tool holder include a gear mounted parallel to the tray and meshing with pinions distributed about the gear, each of these pinions being secured on a shaft carrying a cam controlling the advance of the tool holder, which is spring urged rearwardly.

United States Patent Rene Perrennud l4, RuedesSuglts, 2114 Fleurler, Switzerland Apr. 23, 1969 Aug. 24, 1971 Aug. 13, 1968 Switzerhnll Inventor Appl. No Filed Patented Priority AUTOMATIC MACHINE POI I'll! MANUFACTURE OF STEEL WIRE SPRINGS 4 Clnha, 5 Drawing l ke.

[56] References Cited UNrTED STATES PATENTS 2,134,469 10/1938 Bergevin 140/103 3,351,101 11/1967 Halvorsen 140/103 Primary Examiner-Charles W Lanham Assistant Examiner-R. M. Rogers Altomeys- Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT: A machine for making steel wire springs particularly intended for the watch-making industry has a tray carrying [unwise-arranged tool holders about the center of the tray and radially slidable towards the center of the tray with tools for shaping a spring from a wire coming out from the center of the tray. A means for actuating the tool holder include a gear mounted parallel to the tray and meshing with pinions distributed about the gear, each of these pinions being secured on a shaft carrying a cam controlling the advance of the tool holder, which is spring urged rearwardly PATENTEU AUG24 |97| SHEET 3 OF 4 AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL WIRE SPRINGS This invention is concerned with an automatic machine for the manufacture of springs from steel wire.

Automatic machines for the manufacture of springs from steel wire have already been proposed which include a tray carrying slidable tools positioned radially around an anvil of suitable shape, the spring being shaped about this anvil by bending a steel wire under the successive action of the tools. In a machine for making small springs, in particular for the watch-making industry, the actuation of the tools must take place with great precision and must be perfectly synchronized with the movements of the other members of the machine. However, the solutions heretofore proposed have not been satisfactory and the invention therefore aims at providing a machine in which the tools move with a very accurate cycle.

The invention has for its subject an automatic machine for the making of springs from steel wire, in particular for the watch-making industry, comprising a tray carrying two holders positioned ringwise above the center of the tray and radially slidable in the direction of the center of the tray with tools for keeping the spring from a wire issuing from the center of the tray. This machine is characterized by the fact that the means for controlling the two holders comprise a gear parallel to the tray meshing with pinions fitted about the gear, each of the pinions being secured on a shaft carrying a cam controlling the advance of the tool holder, the withdrawal of which is ensured by a spring.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of example one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an elevational and longitudinal cross-sectional view of a part of the machine.

FIG. 2 shows an elevational longitudinal cross-sectional view of another part of the machine.

FIG. 3 shows a front detail view thereof.

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view along IV-lV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view along V\/ of FIG. 3.

The machine comprises a frame 1 in which is secured a tray 2 carrying 12 tool holders 3 positioned ringwise or fanwise about the center of the tray occupied by a rolling stud 4 in the perimeter of which issues the steel wire feeding the machine. On the sliding tool holders are secured tools 6 which operate successively to wind the wire about stud 4. At least one of these tools is so shaped as to bend the wire against flange 7 carrying the rolling stud. A first shaping of the spring can be effected by means ofa slidable spindle 8 which has alternating rotary movements and whose hollow extremity surrounds stud 4 and drives the wire in its rotational movement above stud 4. In this case, the tools 6 can be used to wind the spring about spindle 8, after immobilizing the same, in order to form a second loop.

The tool holders 3 are constituted by sliders (FIG. 5), having a dovetail moving in a slide 9. Tools 6 are secured removably to the extremity ll] of the tool holder (FIG. 3). Slides 9 are themselves removably secured by means of a screw on tray 2. The withdrawal of the tool holders is ensured by a spring 51 bearing by one of its extremities against the washer 11 and by further extremity against the unthreaded extension of the screw l2.

The advance of each tool holder is ensured by cam 13 mounted at the end of shaft 14 rotating in two ball bearings and carrying at its other extremity a pinion 15 meshing with a gear 16 rotated about a cylindrical shoulder l7 of tray 2 on a needle bearing l8. This gear 16 itself driven by a gear l9 meshing with a pinion 20 cut on a shaft 21 carrying cams 22 and 23 for the control of the clamping and cutting of wire 5, a gear 24 with conical teeth meshing with a similar gear 25 whose shaft carried a set of earns 26 for controlling the advance of the wire, shaft 21 carrying additionally a gear 27 controlling the movement of spin le to the intermediary of the gear train and a toothed segment 28 to which is imparted an alternating movement and a bell cam 29 controlling the advance of the spindle.

Each of cams 13 (FIG. 4) act on the tongue 30 on the corresponding tool holder, this tongue being integral with the nut of a micrometric screw 31 which allows to adjust precisely the path of tool 6.

In the case of the use of spindle 8, certain tool holders can be used on the one hand to immobilize the spindle of the spindle holder, respectively, and on the other hand to control through the intermediary of the lever, the rotational disconnecting of the spindle with the shaft 32 which has a noninterrupted alternating rotary movement.

The use of a common control shaft 21 and of a transmission by gear and planetary pinions enables the required precision for the manufacture of time-piece springs to be obtained.

What is claimed is:

I. An automatic machine for the manufacture of steel wire springs in particular for the watchmaking industry, comprising a tray, a plurality of tool holders positioned in ringwise fashion about a centrally disposed axis of said tray, said tool holders being radially slidable toward said axis of said tray; spring shaping tools carried by said tool holders for shaping wire issuing from said center of said tray; means for moving said tool holders including a gear mounted parallel to said tray, a plurality of pinions distributed about said gear and disposed in mesh therewith, one pinion for each said tool holder, a plurality of shafts respectively fixed to said pinions, a plurality of cams, one on each said shaft, for controlling the advance of said tool holders in the direction of said axis of said tray, and spring means for retractably urging the said tool holders.

2. An automatic machine for the manufacture of steel wire spring in particular for the watch-making industry, comprising a tray, a plurality of tool holders positioned in ringwise fashion about a centrally disposed axis of said tray, said tool holders being radially slidable toward said axis of said tray; spring shaping tools carried by said tool holders for shaping wire issuing from said center of the tray; means for moving said tool holders including a gear mounted parallel to said tray, a plurality of pinions distributed about said gear and disposed in mesh therewith, one pinion for each said tool holder, a plurality of shafts respectively fixed to said pinions, a plurality of cams, one on each said shaft, for controlling the advance of said tool holders; and wherein each tool holder has a tongueshaped member in contact with a corresponding one of said cams, and a plurality of micrometric screw means for adjusting the position of each of said members.

3. An automatic machine for the manufacture of steel springs in particular for the watch-making industry, comprising a tray, a plurality of tool holders positioned in ringwise fashion about a centrally disposed axis of said tray, said tool holders being radially slidable toward said axis of said tray; spring shaping tools carried by said tool holders for shaping wire issuing from said center of said tray; means for moving said tool holders including a ring gear, said tray having a shoulder thereon and said ring gear rotatably mounted on said shoulder and in parallel with said tray, a plurality of pinions distributed about said ring gear and disposed in mesh therewith, one pinion for each said tool holder, a plurality of shafts respectively fixed to said pinions, a plurality of cams, one cam on each said shaft for controlling the advance of one of said tool holders in the direction of said axis of said tray, and spring means for retractably urging the said tool holders.

4. An automatic machine according to claim 3, further comprising a drive shaft, and gear means coupling said drive shaft to said ring gear for driving said ring gear in response to rotation of said drive shaft. 

1. An automatic machine for the manufacture of steel wire springs in particular for the watchmaking industry, comprising a tray, a plurality of tool holders positioned in ringwise fashion about a centrally disposed axis of said tray, said tool holders being radially slidable toward said axis of said tray; spring shaping tools carried by said tool holders for shaping wire issuing from said center of said tray; means for moving said tool holders including a gear mounted parallel to said tray, a plurality of pinions distributed about said gear and disposed in mesh therewith, one pinion for each said tool holder, a plurality of shafts respectively fixed to said pinions, a plurality of cams, one on each said shaft, for controlling the advance of said tool holders in the direction of said axis of said tray, and spring means for retractably urging the said tool holders.
 2. An automatic machine for the manufacture of steel wire spring in particular for the watch-making industry, comprising a tray, a plurality of tool holders positioned in ringwise fashion about a centrally disposed axis of said tray, said tool holders being radially slidable toward said axis of said tray; spring shaping tools carried by said tool holders for shaping wire issuing from said center of the tray; means for moving said tool holders including a gear mounted parallel to said tray, a plurality of pinions distributed about said gear and disposed in mesh therewith, one pinion for each said tool holder, a plurality of shafts respectively fixed to said pinions, a plurality of cams, one on each said shaft, for controlling the advance of said tool holders; and wherein each tool holder has a tongue-shaped member in contact with a corresponding one of said cams, and a plurality of micrometric screw means for adjusting the position of each of said members.
 3. An automatic machine for the manufacture of steel springs in particular for the watch-making industry, comprising a tray, a plurality of tool holders positioned in ringwise fashion about a centrally disposed axis of said tray, said tool holders being radially slidable toward said axis of said tray; spring shaping tools carried by said tool holders for shaping wire issuing from said center of said tray; means for moving said tool holders including a ring gear, said tray having a shoulder thereon and said ring gear rotatably mounted on said shoulder and in parallel with said tray, a plurality of pinions distributed about said ring gear and disposed in mesh therewith, one pinion for each said tool holder, a plurality of shafts respectively fixed to said pinions, a plurality of cams, one cam on each said shaft for controlling the advance of one of said tool holders in the direction of said axis of said tray, and spring means for retractably urging the said tool holders.
 4. An automatic machine according to claim 3, further comprising a drive shaft, and gear means coupling said drive shaft to said ring gear for driving said ring gear in response to rotation of said drive shaft. 